Character display system



Nov. 29, 1966 M. B. KNIGHT 3,289,197

CHARACTER DISPLAY SYSTEM Filed Aug. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MARK B. K/v/aHr A TTORN E Y Nov. 29, 1966 M. B. KNIGHT CHARACTER DISPLAY SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1963 DISPLAY SWITCHES QM 29 MMZZ: E iou MI E-3Q em 56 mu s 2 ZQU MMBDQ 8 :8 0 E23 m m: :8

MFUQKTIU INVENTOR MARK B. K/v/GHT ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,289,197 CHARACTER DISPLAY SYSTEM Mark B. Knight, North Caldwell, N.J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 301,289 9 Claims. (Q1. 340-324) This invention relates to display systems, and more particularly to display systems comprising a plurality of selectively energizable display elements positioned in character configuration, in combination with circuit means including single pole, single throw switches for energizing particular ones of the display elements to cause them to indicate a character.

It is known to position a plurality of energizable display elements in character configuration and, by energizing all the display elements, to produce an indication of said character, or by energizing, selectively, only some of the display elements, to produce indications of other characters. Such prior art devices generally comprise complicated circuits requiring special, multiple throw and multiple contact switches.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved display system, including relatively simple circuits, for producing indications of characters by selective energization of some or all of a plurality of display elements.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved display system, including simplified switch means, for producing indications of characters by selective energization of some or all of a plurality of display elements.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved and simplified plural character display of the type including a plurality of display elements which can be energized selectively.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved relay system particularly adapted for display systems.

In accordance with this invention, a plurality of energizable display elements is arranged in a configuration to provide any one of a plurality of characters, and a plurality of normally open single pole, single throw display switches is provided, one display switch for each display element. Each of the display switches is provided with two operators so arranged that energization of only one operator causes the display switch to make contact, that is, to close; and on energization of both of the operators, the switch remains open. Single pole, single throw character switches are so connected with selected ones of the operators and a source of supply voltage that closing one of the character switches causes selected ones of the display elements to be energized to produce an indication of a character.

In accordance with a feature of this invention, the operators of the display switches may be coil windings producing magnetic fields.

In accordance with a further feature of this invention, the display switches may be reed switches.

The novel features of this invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be understood more readily from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic wiring diagram of one form of a display system according to this invention, one of the display switches used therein being shown in section; and

FIGURE 2 is a chart illustrating the relationship between the coils of the display switches that are energized and the character switches that are closed.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1, a plurality of correlated display elements 10 are arranged in a character configuration. For the purpose of illustration, this character is the numeral 8 and includes seven display elements 10, individually indicated by the additional reference characters A to G. These display elements 10 may be electroluminescent panels, elongated incandescent bulbs, gas-filled tubes, incandescent bulbs illuminating translucent display plates, or the like. The elements 10 are arranged in a block 8 as shown, in two parallelograms, one over the other and having a side in common. The top parallelogram, starting with the left side and progressing clockwise, includes elements 10-A, 10-G, 10-F and 10E. The lower parallelogram includes 10-13, the common element, and proceeding clockwise, the elements 10D, 10C and 10-B.

A plurality of magnetically operated single pole, single throw display switches 12A to 12-G are provided, one display switch 12-A to G corresponding to each display element 10-A to G. Each display switch 12 may comprise an elongated enclosure 14 having a pair of reeds 16 of magnetic, resilient material extending towards each other longitudinally of and through the enclosure 14. The inner ends of the reeds 16 may overlap and be bent away from each other so that the ends of the reeds extend parallel to each other. The ends of the reeds 16 are normally spaced from each other. The enclosure 14 may be evacuated or filled with a gas that is inert with respect to the material of the reed 16 and of the enclosure The operators for any one switch 12 comprise an outer coil 18 and an inner coil 20 surrounding, and positioned coaxially with respect to, the reeds 16 of that switch. The magnetic .field produced by either the coil 18 or the coil 20 extends longitudinally of the reeds 16 and cause the reeds 16 to flex towards and to contact or engage each other, thereby closing the associated display reed switch 12. The coils 18 and 20 may be reversely wound and similarly energized, or the coils may be similary wound and reversely energized, whereby, upon energization of both of the coils 18 and 20, the magnetic fields produced thereby neutralize each other to the point where the magnetic field of the strength required to close the associated reeds 16 of the display switch does not exist. Therefore, upon energization of both coils 18 and 20, the associated display switch 12 remains open. Each of the coils 18 and 20 is provided with a pair of terminals as shown in the drawing.

A source of electrical energy 22, illustrated as being an alternating current source, is provided for energizing the several display elements 10-A to -G. As shown, one reed 16 (the lower one as viewed in FIGURE 1) of each display switch 12-A to G is connected to one terminal of the source 22. The other terminal of the source 22 is connected to one terminal of each of the display elements 10-A to G. The other terminal of each of the display elements 10-A to G is connected to the other reed 16 of the corresponding one of the display switches 12-A to G. For example, the other terminal of the display element 10A is connected to the other reed 16 of the display switch 12 A; the other terminal of the display element 10B is connected to the other reed 16-of the reed switch 12-B; and so forth. Therefore, upon closing one or more reed switches 12A to G, the correspondingly lettered display elements, ltl-A to G, will be energized.

The circuit for causing selective closing of the display switches 12 includes a plurality of single pole, single throw character switches 24. Each of these character switches 24 is also designated by a numeral 1 to 9 and 0. This circuit, as will be explained hereinbelow, causes selective energization of a plurality of display elements ltl-A to G upon closing of one or another of the character switches 24-1 to -41.

3 As shown in FIGURE 1, one pole of each of the character switches 24 is Connected to one terminal (the negative terminal, for example) of a source 26 of electrical energy, shown as a direct current supply source. The

other pole of the character switch 24-2 is connected to one terminal of a coil 20 (for example, the inner coil of the display switch 12-D). The other terminal of the inner coil 20 of the switch 12-D is connected to one terminal of the inner coil of the switch 12-A. The other terminal of the inner coil of the switch 12-A is connected in series with each of the outer coils of the several switches 12-A to -G and to the other, or positive, terminal of the current source 26. Therefore, upon closing the character switch 24-2, the outer coils of all the display switches 12-A to -G will be energized and the inner coils of only display switches 12-A and -D will be energized (whereby a total of nine coils are energized). As noted above, energization of both coils of the switches 12-D and 12-A results in these switches remaining open. However, the display switches 12-B, 12-C, 12-E, 12-F and 12-6 are closed and display elements 10-B, 10-C, 10-E, Ill-F and 10-G are energized, and the numeral 2 is indicated.

The circuit connections of the other character switches will be made evident by the following tracing of the circuits completed upon closing the several character switches.

Upon closing the character switch 24-6, a circuit may be traced from the negative terminal of the source 26 through the switch 24-6, through a resistor 28, the inner coil of the display switch 12-F and the outer coils of all of the display switches 12-A to -G in series, and back to the positive terminal of the source 26. Therefore, the outer coils of the display switches 12-A to -E and 12-6 are energized and both coils of the switch 12-F is energized (a total of eight coils being energized). In this case, all the display elements except the display element 10-F, are energized and the numeral 6 is indicated by the display elements. The resistor 28, which is equal in resistance to the resistance of one coil 18 or 20, is provided in the circuit of the character switch 24-6 to make the total resistance of this character switch circuit equal to the resistance of nine coils. Thereby, the current flowing from the source 26 will be the same whether the switch 24-2 or the switch 24-6 is closed. 7

Upon closing the character switch 24-1, a circuit may be traced from the negative terminal of the source 26 through the switch 24-1, a current equalizing resistor 30, through the outer coils of the switches 12-F and 12-D, all in series, and back to the positive terminal of the source 26. When the character switch 24-1 is closed, only two outer coils, viz., the outer coils of the switches 12-F and 12-D are energized, and only the two display switches 12-F and 12-D are closed whereby only the two display elements 10-F and Iii-D are energized. The numeral 1 is therefore indicated by the display. To equalize the load on source 26, the resistor 30 has a resistance equal to seven times the resistance of one coil winding 18 or 20 of a display switch 12.

Upon closing the character switch 24-4, a circuit may be traced from the source 26 negative terminal, through the switch 24-4, a current equalizing resistor 32, the inner coils of the display switches 12-G and 12-C, the outer coils of the display switches 12-A, 12-C, 12-E, 12-G, 12-F and 12-D, all in series, and back to source 26 positive terminal, whereby eight coils are energized. The resistance of the current equalizing resistor 32 is therefore equal to that of one coil. Display switches 12-A, 12-E, 12-F and 12-D are now closed and the display elements 10-A, 10-E, 10-F and 10-D are energized, whereby the display indicates the numeral 4.

Upon closing the character switch 24-7, a circuit may be traced from the source 26 negative terminal, through the switch 24-7, a current equalizing resistor 34, the outer coils of the display switches 12-6, 12-1 12-D, all

in series, and back to the source 26 positive terminal, whereby only three coils are energized. The resistance of the current equalizing resistor 34 is therefore made equal to six times the resistance of one coil 18 or 20, whereby the total resistance in the circuit is equal to nine times the resistance of one coil. The display elements 10-G, 10-F and 10-D are energized to indicate nu- 'rneral 7.

Upon closing the character switch 24-0, a circuit can be traced from the source 26 negative terminal, through the switch 24-0, at current equalizing resistor 35, through the inner coil of the display switch 12-E and through the outer coils of all the display switches 12-A to -G, in series. Thus, all the display switches except the display switch 12-E are closed, and all the display elements except the display element 10-E are energized, whereby the display elements indicate the numeral 0. Since, in displaying the numeral 0, eight coils are energized in series, the current equalizing resistor 35 has the resistance of one coil.

Upon closing the character switch 24-3, a circuit is provided from the source 26 negative terminal through switch 24-3, a current equalizing resistor 36, the outer coils of the display switches 12-C, 12-E, 12-G, 12-F and 12-D, all in series, and back to the source 26 positive terminal, whereby the display switches 12-C, 12-E, 12-G, 12-F and 12-D are closed and display elements 10-C, Ill-E, Ill-G, 10-F and 10-D are energized to indicate numeral 3. Since only five coils are energized, the resistance of current equalizing resistor 36 has four times the resistance of one coil.

Upon closing the character switch 24-9, a circuit may be traced from the source 26 negative terminal, through the switch 24-9, a current equalizing resistor 38, the outer coils of the reed switches 12-A, 12-C, 12-E, 12-G, 12-F and 12-D, all in series, and back to the source 26 positive terminal, whereby display switches 12-A, 12-C, 12-E, 12-G, 12-F and 12-D are closed and display elements 10-A, 12-C, 10-E, 10-G, 10-F and lil-D are energized and the numeral 9 is indicated. Since six coils are energized, the current equalizing resistor 38 has the resistance value of three times the resistance of one coil.

Upon closing the character switch 24-5, a circuit may be traced from the source 26 negative terminal, through the switch 24-5, the inner coils of the display switches 12-3 and 12-F, the outer coils of all the display switches 12-A to -G, all in series, and back to the positive terminal of the source 26, whereby the reed switches 12-A, 12-C, 12-D, 12-E and 12-G are closed and display elements 10-A, 10-C, 10-D, 10-E, and 10-G are energized to display the numeral 5. No current equalizing resistor is-connected in the circuit of character switch 24-5 since nine coils are energized in series with this switch.

Finally, upon closing the character switch 24-8, a circuit may be traced from the source 26 negative terminal, through the switch 24-8, a current equalizing resistor 40, all the outer coils of all the display switches 12-A to -D in series, and back to the source 26 positive terminal. Since seven coils are energized, the resistance value of the resistor 40 is twice the resistance of one coil 18 or 20. All display switches 12-A to -G are closed upon closing the character switch 24-8, and all the display elements 10-A to -G are energized, whereby the display elements indicate the numeral 8.

The position of check marks on the chart of FIGURE 2 indicates the coils which are energized upon closing the various character switches 24. For example, as shown in this chart, upon closing the character switch 24-1, the outer coils of the display switches 12-D and 12-F are energized; and upon closing character switch 24-2, the outer coils of the display switches 12-A, 12-B, 12-C, 12-D, 12-E, 12-F and 12-6, as well as the inner coils of the display switches 12-A and 12-D, are closed.

Although only a single embodiment of this invention has been described, it will undoubtedly be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations thereof are possible within the spirit of the present invention. For example, while a display of Arabic numerals is disclosed, other characters which can be made up by one or more display elements of a configuration of display elements may be substituted for the numeral display. Although elongated display elements are shown, other shapes thereof, such as round display elements, may be used. The two coils of the reed switches may be positioned side by side, or they may be bifilarly wound.

Moreover, the character switches 24 may be controlled remotely, or by the decimal output of a computer, rather than manually, as shown and described. Also, certain or all of the current equalizing resistors 28 to 40 may be omitted, if desired, at the sacrifice of uniformity of load applied to the source 26. Hence, it should be understood that the above described display means is to be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A single input-permutated plural load output trans lation device comprising (a) a plurality of elements,

(b) a plurality of reed switches,

(1) each reed switch comprising a pair of reed contact members of magnetic material, the ends of said reed contact members being spaced from each other in overlapping relation, and

(2) a pair of actuating coils for each said reed switch for producing a magnetic field along said members thereof, the field produced by current in only one of said coils causing the said ends of said members to contact each other,'the respective fields produced by said coils being in opposition to prevent motion of said reed contact members,

() circuit means including said reed switches for connecting a source of energizing potential across respective load elements in a one to one relationship of said reed switches to said load elements,

(d) a plurality of additional switches,

(e) circuit means including one of said plurality of additional switches for energizing at least one of the coils of one reed switchand for energizing both of the coils of at least one other reed switch, and

(if) said circuit means also including another of said additional switches for energizing one of the coils of said one reed switch or of said other reed switch and both of the coils of a third reed switch, whereby upon successive closure of different ones of said additional switches a respective different combination of load elements will be successively energized.

2. A single input-permutated plural load output translation device comprising (a) a plurality of individually energizable load elements,

(b) a plurality of reed switches,

(1) each reed switch comprising an enclosure,

(2) a pair of resilient reed contact members of magnetic material extending through the enclosure and towards each other, the ends of said reed contact members being spaced from each other in overlapping relation, and

(3) a pair of actuating coil windings surrounding a portion of the enclosure of each reed switch and at least the overlapping portions of the reeds therein, the field produced by one of said coil windings causing resilient flexing of said members into the position where said ends thereof come in contact, the respective fields produced by said pair of coils being in opposition to each other to prevent flexing of said reed contact members,

individually energizable load elongated (c) circuit means including said reed switches for connecting a source of energizing potential across respective load elements in a one to one relationship of said reed switches to said load elements,

(d) a plurality of additional switches,

(e) circuit means including one of said plurality of additional switches for energizing at least one of the coil windings of one reed switch and for energizing both of the coil windings of at least one other reed switch, and

(f) said circuit means also including another of said additional switches for energizing one of the four coil windings of said one reed switch and of said other reed switch and both of the coil windings of a third reed switch, whereby upon successive closure of different ones of said additional switches a respective dififerent combination of load elements will be successively energized.

3. A display system comprising (a) a plurality of individually energizable display elementsv arranged to display respective characteristics upon energization of one or more of said elements,

(b) a plurality of first switches each having a normally open and a closed condition,

(1) each switch having two energizable operators, said operators being in opposition to each other whereby the energization of one of said operators causes closing of the first associated switch and the energization of both of said operators permits said first associated switch to remain in its normally open condition,

(c) circuit meansincluding said first switches for connecting a source of energizing potential across a respective display element in a one to one relationship of said first switches and said display elements,

(d) a plurality of second switches,

(e) circuit means including one of said second switches for causing energization of one of said operators of at least one of said first switches and both of the operators of at least one other of said first switches, and

(f) said circuit means including others of said second switches for causing energization of one of the operators of said one of said first switches and both of the operators of at least a third of said first switches and one of the operators of said other of said first switches and both the operators of at least a fourth of said first switches, whereby upon the operation of one of said second switches at least one of said first switches is closed and whereby upon successive closure of different ones of said second switches a respective different combination of display elements will be successively energized to cause successive display of different characters.

4. A display device comprising (a) a plurality of display elements arranged in character configuration,

(b) alike plurality of reed switches,

(1) each reed switch comprising a pair of reed contact members of magnetic material, the ends of said reed contact members being spaced from each other in overlapping relation, and a pair of actuating coils for each reed switch producing a magnetic field along the reeds thereof, the field produced by one coil along said reeds causing attraction and contact of the said ends of said contact members to each other, the fields produced by said coils being in opposition to neutralize each other to prevent motion of said contact members,

(0) a plurality of character switches,

(d) circuit means including one of said plurality of character switches for energizing at least one of the coils of one reed switch and for energizing both of the coils of at least one other reed switch,

(e) said circuit means including a second of said plurality of said character switches for energizing at least one coil of said one reed switch or of said other reed switch and for energizing both coils of at least a third of said reed switches, and

(f) further circuit means for interconnecting said display elements and said reed switches.

5. A display device comprising (a) a plurality of display elements arranged in character configuration,

(b) a plurality of display switches each having a normally open and a closed condition,

(1) each display switch having two energizable operators, said operators being in oposition to each other whereby the energization of one of said operators causes closing of the associated display switch and the energization of both of said operators permits said associated display switch to remain in its normally open condition,

(c) a plurality of character switches,

(d) circuit means including one of said character switches for causing energization of one of said operators of at least one of said display switches and both of the operators of at least one other of said display switches, and

(e) further circuit means including a voltage source interconnecting said display elements and said display switches whereby, upon closing said one character switch, certain of said display elements indicate a corresponding character.

6. A display device comprising (a) a plurality of display elements arranged in character configuration,

(b) a plurality of magnetically operated display switches each having a normally open and a closed condition,

(1) each display switch having two energizable magnetic operators, said operators being in opposition to each other whereby the energization of one of said operators causes closing of its associated display switch and the energization of both of said operators permits said associated display switch to remain in its normally open condition,

(c) a plurality of character switches,

(d) circuit means including one only of said character switches for causing energization of one of said operators of at least one of said display switches and both of the operators of at least one other of said display switches, and

(e) further circuit means including a voltage source interconnecting each of said display elements and said display switches whereby, upon closing said one character switch, said display elements indicate a corresponding character.

7. A display device comprising (a) a plurality of display elements arranged in character configuration,

(b) a like plurality of reed switches,

(1) each reed switch comprising an elongated enclosure, a pair of resilient reed contact members of magnetic material extending through the enclosure and towards each other in overlapping arrangement, the overlapping portions of said reed contact members being spaced from each other, and a pair of actuating coil windings surrounding a portion of the enclosure of each reed switch and the overlapping portions of the reed contact members therein, the field produced by one of said coils causing resilient flexing of said reeds into the position where said overlapping portions thereof come in contact, the

fields produced by said pair of coil windings being in opposition to each other to neutralize each other and to prevent flexing of said reed contact members,

(c) a plurality of character switches,

(d) circuit means including one of said plurality of character switches for energizing at least one of the coils of one reed switch and for energizing both of the coils of at least one other reed switch, and

(e) further circuit means for interconnecting said display elements and said reed switches.

8. A display device comprising (a) a plurality of display elements arranged in character configuration,

(b) a plurality of display switches each having a normally open and a closed condition,

(1) each of said display switches comprising magnetically operable contact elements and two energizable coils for producing magnetic fields, the energization of one of said coils causing closing of said display switch, the fields produced by the two coils of a switch neutralizing each other whereby the energization of said two coils permits the associated display switch to remain in its normally open condition,

(c) a plurality of character switches,

(d) circuit means including one only of said character switches for causing energization of one of said coils of at least one of said display switches and both of the coils of at least one other of said display switches, and

(e) further circuit means including a voltage source interconnecting each of said display elements and said display switches whereby, upon closing said one character switch, said display elements indicate a corresponding character.

9. A character display system comprising, in combination,

(a) a plurality of correlated, energizable display elements disposed to provide any one of a plurality of different characters depending upon which desired ones of said elements are energized,

(b) a like plurality of normally open first switches each in circuit with a different one of said elements,

(1) a plurality of pairs of energizable operators, each pair associated with a difierent one of said first switches, each pair of said operators being adapted to retain their respective said first switches open when said operators are energized concurrently and being adapted to effect closing thereof when only one of said operators is energized,

(c) a plurality of second switches in circuit with said operators for causing selected ones of said operators to become energized, and

(d) a source of voltage in circuit with said second switches and said operators for energizing selected ones of said operators through selected ones of said 7 second switches whereby to efiect energizing selected ones of said operators to cause desired ones of said first switches to close and thereby elfect energization of desired ones of said display elements to produce a desired character display.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,985,794 5/ 1961 Sarratt. 3,042,900 7/1962 Werts 340-168 3,174,081 3/1965 Burnett B, 317155.5

NEIL C. READ, Primary Examiner, KASPER, Ass stant Examiner. 

4. A DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING (A) A PLURALITY OF DISPLAY ELEMENTS ARRANGED IN CHARACTER CONFIGURATION, (B) A LIKE PLURALITY OF REED SWITCHES, (1) EACH REED SWITCH COMPRISING A PAIR OF REED CONTACT MEMBERS OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL, THE ENDS OF SAID REED CONTACT MEMBERS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER IN OVERLAPPING RELATION, AND A PAIR OF ACTUATING COILS FOR EACH REED SWITCH PRODUCING A MAGNETIC FIELD ALONG THE REEDS THEREOF, THE FIELD PRODUCED BY ONE COIL ALONG SAID REEDS CAUSING ATTRACTION AND CONTACT OF THE SAID ENDS OF SAID CONTACT MEMBERS TO EACH OTHER, THE FIELDS PRODUCED BY SAID COILS BEING IN OPPOSITION TO NEUTRALIZE EACH OTHER TO PREVENT MOTION OF SAID CONTACT MEMBERS, (C) A PLURALITY OF CHARACTER SWITCHES, (D) CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF CHARACTER SWITCHES FOR ENERGIZING AT LEAST ONE OF THE COILS OF ONE REED SWITCH AND FOR ENERGIZING BOTH OF THE COILS OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER REED SWITCH, (E) SAID CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING A SECOND OF SAID PLURALITY OF SAID CHARACTER SWITCHES FOR ENERGIZING AT LEAST ONE COIL TO SAID ONE REED SWITCH OR OF SAID OTHER REED SWITCH AND FOR ENERGIZING BOTH COILS OF AT LEAST A THIRD OF SAID REED SWITCHES, AND (F) FURTHER CIRCUIT MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID DISPLAY ELEMENTS AND SAID REED SWITCHES. 